Chief Minister Stresses on extending all facilities to yatris during Shri Amarnath Yatra

Srinagar, May 25 – Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah reviewed the arrangements for this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra at a high-level meeting, here today.

Chief Secretary, Mr. S. S. Kapur, Financial Commissioner, Home, Mr. Verghese Samuel, DG, CID, Mr. Ashok Bhan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Mr. B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr. Masaud Samoon, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Secretary, Tourism, Ms. Tanveer Jehan, IGP, Kashmir and other senior officer were present in the meeting.

In the power-point presentation, Mr. Samoon gave a resume of the arrangements put in place this year for the smooth conduct of yatra.
It was stated that the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts would be the Yatra Officers to oversee all arrangements during the yatra period. It was stated that as many as 19 State government departments including Revenue, Animal Husbandry, CAPD, Forests, Health, JKTDC, Information, R&B, PDD, PHE, Police and Fire & Emergency Services will provide necessary facilities to the yatris during the period. In addition, Central government agencies like Army, Air Force, Security, BSNL, Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan will also provide services during the yatra period.

It was stated that medicare, drinking water, power supply, essential commodities, firewood and various other facilities would be provided to the yatris en route holy cave. The arrangements for transportation, helicopter service, tentage have also been made, besides a contingency plan to tackle any eventuality.

The Chief Minister asked the concerned officers to put in place all arrangements well in advance for the smooth conduct of yatra. He said the snow clearance on the track to the cave shrine would be ensured by deploying men to facilitate the yatra. “Measures should be taken to provide all facilities to the yatris during the period in close coordination with local people”, he stressed.

Hoteliers, Tour Operators offer Special Packages, discount during Shri Amaranth Yatra

Jammu, May 25 - Preparation for forthcoming Amarnath Yatra-2009 were discussed with various organization of Tourism industry in a meeting convened under the Chairmanship of Director Tourism, Mr S M Sahni here this evening.

Deliberating upon various issue related to convenient and comfortable stay of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in Jammu, Mr Sahni emphasized upon maintaining liaison and working in coordination for smooth conduct of the prestigious yatra.

Briefing the participants about Yatra arrangements, Mr Sahni apprised that the devotees would be welcomed through hoardings and banners to be installed at several conspicuous locations. Lodging arrangements by President, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Jammu/Katra President All Jammu Lodges Association and special discounts offered by them, special packages for pilgrims around Katra and nearby tourist destinations and availability of private vehicles for yatra groups by Taxi Operators Association were also discussed. The provision of Dogri cuisines during yatra on reasonable rates at various hotels and check on rates, tariff by President, Hotel and Restaurant Association and President Dhaba Association was discussed with emphasis on display of rate lists at the establishments for the visitors.

Community participation in yatra arrangements, group coaches, ferry services by Travel and Tour Operators, booking counters at Railway Station, Yatra Niwas and Katra, Tour and travel counters at Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar and other places of guidance, booking and reservations besides cleanliness, face lifting and decoration of establishments and bazaars were also discussed threadbare.
Director Tourism asserted that politeness and cordial behaviour ought to be ensured towards visiting guests as police and traffic departments have also been requested for the same. He asked for coordination of all NGO’s with Yatra Control Room so as to seek any information regarding Amarnath Yatra.
The participating Association members gave certain valuable suggestions for impressive conduct of yatra which mainly included organizing of cultural evenings at prominent identified places within Jammu city.